The working principle, characteristics and application status of distributed high-density resistivity method are expounded from perspectives of electrode combination, data collection and inversion interpretation. The detection effects of wenner device (α), wenner-dipole device (β) and schlumberg (α2) in karst, soft interlayer, high-resistivity body, lithological interface division and structural detection were compared and studied with engineering examples. The advantages and disadvantages, accuracy and applicability of three common types of distributed high-density resistivity devices in stratum detection, detailed detection of low and high resistivity bodies are summarized and analyzed systematically. It is necessary to select more than two types of device according to the purpose and precision of the exploration in line with geological conditions.